Shield for vestibule-curtains.



J. D. HEATER.

SHIELD FOR VESTIBULE CURTAINS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3, 1914.

1 1 69,8 1 4.. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

awe/Mon THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO., WASHINGTON, D. c.

.IAcoB'D. HEATER, or DAYTON, OHIO, AssIGNon To THE BARNEY AND sMITII CAR COMPANY, or DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION or WEST VIRGINIA.

SHIELD FOR VESTIBULE-CURTAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Feb. 1', 1916.

Application filed October 3, 1214. Serial No, 864,725.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB DjHnATER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shields for Vestible-Curtains, of which the following is a'specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

This invention relates to shields for vestibule curtains. Vestibule curtains are commonly employed to bridge the space between the ends of the vestibules of two adjacent cars and to form side walls for the passageway leading from one car to the other. The vestibule curtain is mounted on a vertically arranged spring roller, of ordinary construction, on one vestibule and is drawn across the spacebetween the two vestibules and made fast on the other vestibule. It is desirable that the curtain roller be inclosed ina casing or shield, both to protect the roller and curtain and to render the structure more sightly. Ordinarily, these shields or casings entirely inclose the curtain roller except for a slot through which the curtain is drawn, and are secured to the supporting structure by means of rivets or bolts. When it is desired to have access to the roller tomake repairs or for any other purpose, it is'necessaryto remove these bolts or rivets in order to move-the casing away from the roller. It has been attempted to provide a' hinged door for the casing, but

the-construction is objectionable.

The object of the present invention is to provide a shield having a movable side wall pivotally supported to permit the same to be, swung into either of two positions, one of which will close the casing about the curtain roller, with the exception of the slot forthe curtain, andthe other of which will open this casing-t0 permit'a'ccess to the curtainroller and to so construct the device that when in its open position the movable wall will be within the casing;

and further, to provide'means to positively hold the mov able wall in either of said two positions.

It is also'anfobject or the:invention to I otthe vestibule post Walls of the casing,

provide such a device of a very simple, durable construction which will have no parts easily broken or disarrangedin service.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view taken lengthwise of the end portions of the vestibules of the two cars, partially broken away, showing the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a shield taken just inside of the top plate; and Fig.3 is a plan view of the shield.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied to a car vestibule of ordinary construction. In this particular vestibule the curtain is mounted on av part of the vestibule frame, such as one of the vestibule posts. As here shown, this post comprises two vertical members arranged at right angles one to theother, and I have utilized these members of the post to form two of the fixed walls of the shield. It will be understood, however, that in case thevestibu le post is of a different construction, or it is not desirable to utilize the same in this manner, the fixed walls of the casing maybe of any suitable construction and mounted in any suitable manner.

In this particular illustration of the in vention I have shown the vestibule curtain 1 mounted upon a roller 2 which may be a spring roller of ordinary construction, and havev shown the roller as mounted in brackets 3 to permit it to rotate about averticalax'is. T hesebrackets are mounted upon the frame of the vestibule, and, in the present instance, onthe vestibule post. As above explained, thi post comprises an angle iron,

the two parts of which are shownat 4 and 5. Rigidly secured to the vestibule post, above the upper bracket 3, is a top'plate 6, preferablyprovided with upwardly extending flanges 7 by'means of which it is secured to the parts 4: and 5 of the post. A bottom late 8 of similar construction'is secured to he vestibule post beneath the lower bracket As has been stated, the members 4 and 5 form two of the fixed A third fixed wall is arranged parallel with the member t of the post, but is of a less width than that post. I11 the present instance this third side wall is shown at 9 and consists of an angular member having one flange rigidly secured to the part 5 of the post. The outer edge of this side wall terminates some distance back of the outer edge of the part or flange 4 of the post. thus providing an open space be tween these walls somewhat greater in length than the width of the casing. A movable wall 10 is provided to close this space. Preferably, this wall is curved about a ver tical axis so as to provide a rounding front to the casing when the movable wall, or closure, is in its closed position. The movable: wallv is preferably mounted on vertical axis, and: to this end it is secured at its upper and loweredges to two sector shaped arms 11, which in turn are mounted on pivot pins 12in'the top and bottom plates 6- and 8.

Preferably, the forward movement of the closure or movable wall is so limited that when it is in its extreme forward position a slot 13 will. be provided between the for-- ward edge thereof and the edge of the: flange- 4: of the post, topermit the passage of the curtain. To so limit the movement of the closure I have'projected the rear'edge" of the closure outwardly from the arc of the circle: about which the remainder of'the closure is described- This lengthens the" radius of the rear edge of the closure and causesthe: same to: engage the forward edge: of the fixed, side wall 9, and thus check the forward movement of the closure and: form a dust tight joint at that point. This increased; radius may be secured by the: lengthening of the inner edgesof the arms 11, by folding or rolling the rear edge of the plate which. forms the closure, or in any other suitable manner; In the present instance I have em.-- ployed both of the methods above: mentioned', that is, I have lengthened the rear edges of the arms and have: folded the plate upon itself, but it will be understood; that either of these methods may be: used without the: other with satisfactory results. It. will be noted that the curved swingingwall having its rear edge arranged to cooperate: with the straight side wall of the housing.

provides a construction which will not be.

choked up or hampered by the entrance of cinders or dust into the-joint. If any cin-- der'slodge' in: the joint while the closure is. in its extended position they will be immediately released when it begins its rearward movement. Means are provided to hold the rear edge of the closure against the side wall: of the; housing and thus maintain a; tight joint In the present instance, this? means is of such a character that it will hold the closure either in its open or its closed position. As here. shown, this means comprises a spring catch in the form of a flat spring 14: secured on the upper surface of the top plate 6 and having a pin 15 extending through a hole in the top plate and adapted to extend in front'of the upper arm 11 when the closure is in its open position, and to extend through an opening 16 in said when the closure is in its closed position. This particular type of catch is of special value in connection with a device of this kind because it has no cavities or recesses of any kind in which cinders or dust maycollect and thus interferewith the operation thereof.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from. the: foregoing description,

and it will be apparent that I have provided shield for the curtain roller which fits snugly inthe angle of the vestibule post and which. has a smooth finish which harmonizes with the structure of the vestibule.

Further, it will beappa-rent that the device scribed, for obvious modifications will occur toa person skilled in the art.

Having." thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shield for a curtain roller comprising a housing having walls. within. which SEL'lGl roller is mounted, the ad acent edges oftwo of said walls being spaced apart said housing also hELVlIlg a wall mounted on an: 3X18 and adapted to be moved intoand out of: the space: between saidedges, one: por tion of said: last-mentionedwall having a radiusisligliitly gre'aterthan the distance between said: axis and one of the said adjacent edges, and the: remaining portion of said wall having a radius slightly less than that distance,v whereby said first portion: of said wall will engage" the last-mentioned adjacent ed'ge' to limsiit the movement of sari-d wall and: to form' a tight joint atgt'he' engaging portions.

2;; A shield for a: curtain. roller compris'-- ing' a housing: having walls; the adjacent edges of two of said walls; being spaced apart, said. housing also havinga closure comprising; a plate mounted for swinging movement about: an axis toenable to be: moved across the' space between: said adja cent; edges, the radius of the; rear edge of said plate being of greater length than the In testimony whereof'I afli'x my signature radius of the forward portion thereof and in presence of two Witnesses.

being so arranged with relation to one of said adjacent edges that when said plate is JACOB HEATER in its extended position said rear edge there- Witnesses:

of will engage said last-mentioned adjacent W. EMMoNs, Jr., edge and form a tight joint. EDWARD L. REED.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

